Summary
Bad Boysstars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reveal their conditions for returning to the franchise for another sequel. TheBad Boysfranchise began in 1995 with Michael Bay’s movie of the same name, which saw Smith and Lawrence take on the roles of Miami cops Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett. The movie was a box office success, grossing $141 million against a budget of $19 million, and spawned three sequels, with the most recent installment, theexplosiveBad Boys: Ride or Die, released on June 7.
The franchise is almost 30 years old, and the box office success ofBad Boys: Ride or Diehas led to discussions surrounding the possibility ofBad Boys 5at some stage in the future. In an interview withEntertainment Weekly,Smith and Lawrence explained the conditions that would lead to the two of them returning for a fourth sequel. The duo both confirmed that they are open to doing moreBad Boysmovies if fans are amenable, but had a few caveats, including doing fewer stunts. Check out their comments below:
Smith:Well, these younger actors are going to need to do more of the stunts, that’s for sure. It is a world and characters that are just an absolute joy to be with. In a movie theater with Mike and Marcus, it just feels like home. So, as long as there’s a reason — I never wanted to be one of those dudes who make sequels just because people will go. I want to make them because there is something to say and the characters have a place that they’re developing to that will be interesting and fun to watch and maybe even a little helpful. Is there something that can happen in these characters' lives that is worth asking people to go to a movie theater for? And with this movie, the answer is a resounding yes.
Lawrence:We always have so much fun making these movies and you’ve got to give the fans what they want. Will and I have a great time working together, so as long as the fans want it and the demand is there, I’ll keep trying to give them what they want. We’ll have to see. You know I never say never, but it also has to make sense. If the fans ask for it, you know we could be back.
A Solid Box Office Haul Could Get A Sequel Greenlit
As one of the most successful buddy cop franchises of recent decades, theBad Boysmoviesclearly still have a large following, and there is a good chance thatRide or Diecould wind up becoming the most successful installment.The movie has already grossed more than $105 million worldwide over its opening weekend,and it could surpassBad Boys for Life’s box office total of $426.5 million and become the highest-grossing movie in the series, which bodes well for its future. Below, see the current breakdown of the overall franchise’s box office performance:
$15.5 million
$141.4 million
$46.5 million
$273.3 million
$62.5 million
$426.5 million
Bad Boys: Ride or Die(2024)
$56 million
TBD
Hollywood has struggled at the box office this year, and summer 2024 got off to a rough start with movies such asFuriosa: A Mad Max SagaandThe Fall Guycoming in below expectations. ThatBad Boys: Ride or Dieexceeded expectations at the box officehas gone some way toward helping revive the season, and it has the advantage of standing without major competition in the coming weeks. Genre-wise, the next comparable title isDeadpool & Wolverineat the end of July, thus givingBad Boys: Ride or Diespace to grow even further financially.
6 Reasons So Many Movies Are Struggling At The Box Office In 2024
For every Barbie, Oppenheimer, and Dune: Part Two, there are many more theatrically released movies that struggle to become box-office successes.
WhileBad Boys 5is yet to be confirmed, ifRide or Dieis a success,it seems likely that a fifth movie will come to fruition at some point in the future. It will depend upon the schedules of both Smith and Lawrence, as well as how their respective ages are going to impact their ability to continue to fulfill their roles effectively. With both men open to returning to the franchise in the future, and legacy director Michael Bay making a cameo in the movie,Bad Boys: Ride or Diecould mark an exciting future for the franchise.
The Franchise Has Set Up Characters Who Can Take The Torch From Smith & Lawrence
As Smith intimates, a potentialBad Boys5could very well give more of a central role to younger cast members, allowing them to bear the brunt of the action scenes. This seemed to be whatBad Boys for Lifewas setting up byintroducing a younger team called Advanced Miami Metro Operations (AMMO)to whom they might be able to pass the torch. See the members of the AMMO team below:
Rafe (Member)
Charles Melton
While these newBad Boyscastmembers did not end up becoming as central to the fourth movie as it seemed like they might,Núñez, Hudgens, and Ludwig all proved their ability to commit to the franchise’s longevityby reprising their roles inRide or Die. Melton was the only AMMO member not to appear in the new movie, possibly because of his busy schedule shooting the final season ofRiverdaleand his buzzy performance in Todd Haynes’May December.
In addition to giving Rita a new boyfriend, Adam (Ioan Gruffudd),Ride or Diecontinued the storylines of the returning AMMO members by revealing that Kelly and Dorn are now dating.
In addition to the AMMO members, another character who could be the focus ofBad Boys 5is Armando Aretas,the illegitimate son of Smith’s Mike Lowrey and former drug kingpin Isabel Aretas(Kate del Castillo). Armando has played an antagonistic role in the two most recent installments. The actor who plays him, Jacob Scipio, is 31 years old at the time of writing, which makes him the perfect age to continue opposing the younger cast members at every turn, should Smith and Lawrence wish to take a step back from major action sequences.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Cast
Bad Boys: Ride or Die continues the action-packed saga of Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. The film follows the duo as they face new threats and personal challenges, blending intense action scenes with the camaraderie fans have come to love in the Bad Boys series.
